Kentisbeare C of E Primary School

At Kentisbeare Church of England School, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is our highest priority and is the responsibility of everyone. We are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where all children are protected, valued, and able to flourish.

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility and a core part of our school culture. All staff, governors, volunteers, and visitors have a duty to act on any concerns to ensure every child is safe, supported, and protected.

Safeguarding Leads:

Designated Safeguarding Lead - Danielle Joyce - Head of School

Deputy Safeguarding Lead - Helen Bastin - SENCO 

Federation Safeguarding Lead - Martin O'Mahony - Exec Head 

Safeguarding Governor - Anna Allen

Our Commitment to Safeguarding:

We take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and have robust policies and procedures in place that reflect statutory guidance and best practice. Our work is underpinned by Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), which sets out what schools must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2

All staff are vigilant, know how to identify concerns early, and understand how to respond appropriately to protect children from harm.

Staff Training:

All staff and volunteers receive annual safeguarding and child protection training, with regular refresher updates throughout the year. This ensures safeguarding remains a priority and that staff are confident in:

• Recognising signs of abuse and neglect
• Understanding safeguarding procedures and reporting concerns
• Responding appropriately to disclosures

Working with External Agencies – Devon MASH:

Where concerns meet the threshold for external support or intervention, the school works closely with Devon Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Devon MASH brings together key safeguarding partners to ensure that concerns about children are shared appropriately and responded to in a timely and coordinated way.

More information about Devon MASH can be found here:

• https://www.devon.gov.uk/children-families/child-protection/mash/

The PREVENT Duty:

As part of our safeguarding duties, we actively meet the requirements of the PREVENT strategy, which aims to protect children from the risk of radicalisation and extremism. Staff are trained to recognise possible indicators and understand how to report concerns in line with school procedures.

Further information about the PREVENT duty can be found here:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

Online Safety:

We recognise that keeping children safe online is an essential part of safeguarding. Pupils are taught about online safety as part of the curriculum, in line with statutory guidance. This includes:

• Safe and responsible use of technology
• Awareness of online risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, and harmful content
• Knowing how to report concerns and seek help

Online safety is embedded across the curriculum and reinforced through assemblies, staff training, and clear expectations for technology use.

Concerned about a child?

If you have serious concerns about a child or young person call
Devon Safeguarding Hub: 0345 155 1071
Out of hours please call (Devon) 0845 6000 388
Or email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk

📌 Online Safety – Parent Resources

1. UK Safer Internet Centre – Practical advice and resources to help families keep children safe online.
🔗 https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/

2. NSPCC – Online Safety – Guidance on online risks and talking to children about technology.
🔗 https://www.nspcc.org.uk/onlinesafety/

3. CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection – Police-run safety centre with advice and reporting for online concerns.
🔗 https://www.ceop.police.uk/Safety-Centre/

4. Internet Matters – Step-by-step guidance on parental controls and app/game safety.
🔗 https://www.internetmatters.org/

5. Net Aware – Helps parents understand popular apps and platforms with safety tips and age guidance.
🔗 https://www.net-aware.org.uk/